Cribbing



July `5, '1938. w, L, MCDANIEL 2,123,016

CRIBBING Filed June 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE CRIBBING Application June 12., 1937, Serial No. 147,812

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to cribbing, and is particularly concerned with concrete cribbing of the type adapted to be used for dikes and other flood control walls.

" While the present cribbing is particularly applicable to dike construction, it should be'noted that it may be used in all cases where cribbing would be suitable, and I do not wish to be limited to the preferred form of use of this cribbing.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved closed face cribbing which is so constructed that a practically impervious finished wall may be obtained, thereby preventing the leakage of the water into the space behind the forward cribbing wall, and preventing inundation or erosion of, the fill; l

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved cribbing which is adapted to be laid along a curve, and which primarily depends upon the principle of friction between the engaging surfaces of the headers Yand stretchers for preventing any appreciable slippage between the unitsof the cribbing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved cribbing ofthe class described, which is provided with a reserve locking arrangement adapted to positively prevent the relative movement of header and stretcher units in the event the friction between the headers and stretchers is not sufficient, so as to meet the requirements of the users of `cribbings of this type. l

Another object is the provision of an Vimproved interlocking arrangement for cribbing members,

such as headers and stretchers, which are frangible, so that the inter-locking members willbe broken before the concrete stretchers andheaders 1 are ruptured, in theevent of any undue strain on the cribbing.

, Another. object of the inventionis` `the provision of closed face cribbing which may be made impervious, in. which thereis a maximum .of

(c1. (s1-i7) cannot be constructed to extremely close limits of sizes economically.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved anchoring device for cribbing units, which is more elastic than the concrete of which the cribbing units are constructed, so that the anchoring members are adapted to give, rather than the crib unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved cribbing arrangement of the class described, in which the forms for the cribbing units will be of the utmost simplicity possible, while still accomplishing the foregoing objects.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views: y

Referring to the two sheets of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a cribbing constructed according to the present invention, having a portion built as a closed face cribbing; and another portion built as an open face cribbing;

Fig. 2 is a vertical end elevational view of a cribbing installation constructed according to the present invention, but having stepped walls in the front and the back;

Fig'. 3 is a fragmentary View in perspective of the joint between two stretchers and a header in the closed face type of cribbing;

Fig. 4 isranother similar fragmentary view in perspective;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one end of a foundation stretcher member for the closed face type of cribbing;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one end of a stretcher member for an open face type of cribbing;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary .view in perspective of one end of the ordinary stretcher member for a closed face type of cribbing;

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of the joint between a stretcher and a header in a cribbing constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View in perspective of a header member which is particularly adapted to be used at the point where the cribbing is stepped` back;

J Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the joint between a stretcher and a header at a corner of the wall of Fig. 1, showing the intercommunicating grooves above and below the header. and stretcher members in the front wall for the Cir purpose of permitting the use of a sealing cement or compound to provide an impervious wall;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line l I--II of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a wall having grooved cribbing members, the wall having its spaces and grooves filled with mortar for the purpose of providing an impervious front wall;

Fig. l2 is a top plan View of the form of interlocking joint provided between two stretchers which are arranged at right angles to each other, as, for example, the stretchers 3D and Il of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, lll indicates in its entirety a cribbing installation whichv is built up of headers lil-2S and stretchers ill-4|. The stretchers are those units which extend longitudinally of the cribbing installation, and the headers are those units which extend transversely of the length of the complete installation. Of` course, the cribbing is covered with ll, except its forward and exposed wall composed of the cribbing members Liu-4|, and the ll is omitted in Fig. l merely to show the structure of the cribbing.

Referring to Fig. 1, itwill be noted that both the header members and the'stretcher members are preferably rectangular in cross section, being provided with two plane rectangular sides, with two plane rectangular ends, and two plane rectangular upper and lower surfaces. This simplies the construction of forms and gives a maximum amount of b-earing area. The -cribbing members are particularly shaped at their ends in order to provide for interlocking engagement between the headers and the stretchers, and it will be noted that the wall is built up in the customary manner of building upa cribbing wail. For example, first the stretchers 33, 31, and il are laid; then the rear stretchers 23, 25 andZS are laid parallel to `the :first-mentioned stretchers, but spaced therefrom so as to` engage only the end portions of the headers. Then the headers I 4, Il, and 2i) are laid, with their end'portions located at the joints between the rear stretchers and the front stretchers, and overlapping these joint portions so that the ends of the headers are flush with the outer surfaces of the stretchers.

This provides a cribbing wall having no projections which are apt to be broken off or which might mar the .appearance of the wall.

Thereafter, the next course of stretchers is laid, then the next course of headers, and so on, until the cribbing wall is built up as shown in Fig. l.

Referring to Fig. 2, this is a similar structure, in which the headers are made in various lengths for the purpose of providing a stepped wall. Obviously the wall may be stepped at the back and made a plane at surface in front or it may be stepped in front and provided with a plane flat surface in back, or both walls may have plane flat surfaces, as shown in Fig. l, or both walls may be stepped as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to make a structure of Fig. 2, the lowermost set of stretchers @l2-45 are preferably made wider in a horizontal direction in order to increase the strength and bearing surface of the stretchers at the bottom of the cribbing. The next set of stretchers 46-49 are preferably made slightly narrower in a horizontal direction, since they are located at a higher point in the wall. The next series of stretchers 563-53 are preferably made still narrower in a horizontal direction, as

they are located still higher in the wall and need support less weight than the lowermost stretchers.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2 the uppermost series of stretchers Sli-5l are of the same width as the last series mentioned. These last two series of stretchers are substantially square in cross section.

The headers in Fig. 2 have been numbered 58-65. In this embodiment they comprise two sets of headers, each set having a number of headers of the same length, but the headers decrease in length toward the top.

It will be observed that the lowermost headers 58-59 are longest, thereby providing a step 'Hl and a step l5. The second series of headers Gti, 6l are shorter by such an amount that the front and rear stretcher walls, comprising the stretchers 46-49, still rest on the front and rear stretcher walls, comprising stretchers l2-Mi.

In a similar manner the headers S2, 63 are shorter than the headers B0, El by an amount which brings the location of the stretcher walls 553 above at least a portion of the stretcher walls #L6-49.

In the uppermost series of headers Sli, '55 there is exemplified a structure in which the stretcher walls` 54-51 are'completely offset with respect to the stretcher walls Sil-53 and the uppermost stretcher walls rest on the transverse headers 63 at the top of the third series of headers. This is permissible because this section E4, @5 of the stepped cribbing is located at the top of the assembly, where there is less weight to carry.

Referring to Fig. 1, the present cribbing depends primarily upon the weightof the cribbing members and of the ll acting on the cribbing members to produce friction at the interengaging fiat surfaces of the stretchers and headers. Years of experience with cribbing have convinced me that for most practical purposes this friction between the stretchers and-headers at their` points of engagement is sufficient to prevent any movement of the stretchers and headers when properly constructed. y

In order to assure the frictional engagement between the headers and stretchers, it will be noted that the stretchers and the headers, even in aclosed face wall, such as shown at the left in Fig. 1 are so constructed that there is a slight crack I6-18 between the stretchers and the cracks IS-8D between the headers.

These cracks 'I6-18 may also serve to assist in making the front wall absolutely water-tight, since the cribbing members may be pointed up with mortar .in the usual way of constructing a stone wall to make an impervious nished wall.

Another mode of construction is to lay the cribbing members up with mortar at the time the cribbing is laid and then finish the job by pointing. Thus the present cribbing is adapted to provide an impervious cribbing wall which. is perfectly adapted for dike construction or other flood control walls becausev the front wall is impervious to" moisture and there is no danger of the ll being washed out by the action of the water, since the water cannot. penetrate to the ll.

Referring to Figs. 3 6, thes-e views show the construction of the ends of stretcher and header units and interlocking arrangement which is adapted to provide suflicient flexibility so that the cribbing can be laid along a curve, and so that there is a reserve inter-locking means positively to prevent the movement of the stretchers relative to the headers.

In Fig. 4, 82 indicates the end portion of a stretcher and 83 the end portion of an adjacent stretcher in the same course. 84 indicates the i end portion of a header which is arranged just above the course 82, 83, and interlocking with the ends shown.

Except for the two vertically extending grooves 85, 86, which are located in the sides of each header adjacent each end thereof, the headers are substantially rectangular in cross section and provided with plane rectangular faces on their sides. The grooves 85, 86 are located inward of the end face of the header 84 at such apoint that the apex of each `groove ispreferably on l `the center line of the width of the stretchersu 82,

The ends of the stretchers 82, 83 are provided with the portions 81, 88 ofk reduced rectangular crosssection, each stretcher beingcut out above and below by an amount which is equalto onefourth of the cross-section `of the header. 'I'hus the recess which is formed above the joint between two stretchers is suicient to receive slightly less than half of the depth of the header 84.

The reason for making this cut-out less than half of the depth of the header is to provide the cracks 18 between the stretchers, which may be filled with cement or pointed up in the usual way.

In other embodiments of the invention employing the mortar-filled grooves of Fig. 11, no cracks need be used. The faces 89-92 at the ends of the stretchers are also provided with vertically extending grooves 93-96, the groove 95 not being visible in Fig. 4. located midway between the front and rear faces of the stretchers so as `to be substantially in alignment with the grooves 85, 86 when theend of the header is flush with the outer face of the stretcher.

It will thus be observed that as the grooves all run in a vertical direction there are no pockets of any kind within which water might be located or retained so as to cause damage when the water is frozen. Any water may, therefore, leak out the rear face of the cribbing wall, even though the forward face has been pointed or closed with mortar.

The grooves 85,Y 85 and 93-95 are preferably triangular in section, as viewed from the top (see Fig. i); that is, of such shape that when the grooves in adjacent stretchers and headers are in registry they forman aperture of rectangular shape, preferably square. This square aperture is adapted to receive inter-locking members 91, 88, which are dropped in place, and which are slightly smaller than the aperture into which they are dropped, due to the spacing of the end of `the stretcher from the side of the header.

The dimensions of the triangular grooves may v correspond to the dimensions of the inter-locking members, but by spacing the cribbing members, such as, for example, a quarter of an inch apart, a predetermined amount lof play is provided between the grooves and the interlocking members.

These interlocking members are preferably made of a material which is cheap and which has a greater flexibility than the concrete so that fthey are adapted to give before the concrete breaks.

These grooves 93-96 are also 1 rst dropped into place, and then the pins are dropped inv from the position shown in Fig. 4. Thereafter the next course of headers may be putin place.

It should be noted that when the cribbing is complete, the pins are not at all visible, nor are the grooves visible from the outside of the cribbing, and therefore Fig. 1 may represent not only a cribbing with such pins, but a cribbing without the pins, and with or without mortar grooves.

Referring to Fig. 5, this is a view of a modified form of stretcher unit which is intended for use only for the foundation or lowermost stretcher or for the uppermost stretcher. In this case only one of the horizontal faces of the'cribbing is cut in at each'end and provided with the triangular groove.

Referring to Fig. 6, this is a modified form of stretcher unit which is intended to be used wherever the open face type of cribbing is desired, as,

for'example, the stretcher units 35, 36, 31 of Fig. l.

In this case the portion of reduced cross section at the end may be substantially six inches in depth, the end being cut out to a depth of one inch, and the total height of the stretcher being eight inches. This leaves the relatively wide spaces 89-l8l between the stretcher units in Fig. l in the right hand portion of the wall, illustrating what is called an open face cribbing. Such a cribbing is not deemed of the best construction for flood control, since it cannot be made impervious.

Referring to Fig. '1, this is a fragmentary View of the end of astretcher unit of the same type shown in Fig. 4 and used for a closed face cribbing.

Referring to Fig. 1, it should be noted that where the c'ribbing isf to be provided with two forward faces at right angles to each other, such as faces of the header l2-I4 and the faces of stretchers 38-33, special stretcher units should be constructed, the ends of which are substantially the same as the header units -i 5-I1, but the rear faces of the stretcher'units 38-33 and header units I2|4 are provided with grooves like the grooves 93-94 to interlock these stretcher units at the corner. The specific constructionis illustrated in Fig. 12, showing theV interlocking stretcher units lat a kright angled corner.

Due to the play between the ends of the stretchers, the' stretcher wall may be laid along the curve, or the corner may be made slightly different from a right vangled corner, if desired.

Referring to Fig. 8, this is a plan view of the top of a stretcher and header, the header being numbered 84 and the stretcher 83. The clearance between the stretcher and header and between these members and the interlocking member 98 is apparent in this figure. If desired, a similar clearance may be used between the ends of adjacent stretchers, and such clearance in the same course is absolutely necessary at that point when the wall is made curved.

Referring to Fig. 9,this is a view in perspective of the end of a header of the used in Fig. 2', where the wall has been stepped inward towardthe top. It will be observed that the headers 63, 6l Yand 58 are each required to have two grooves of the stretchers above and below such headers. Thus each particular header H32 is provided with pairs of grooves H13-iii@ on each of the vertical faces.` Y

Referring to Figs. and 11, these are views showing the method of providing the tops and bottoms of stretchers and headers with suitable grooves of such construction that they may be filled with a water sealing compound or cement.

The stretcher IIJI has on its upper face IUS a tapered or wedge-shaped groove IQ and a similar groove I iEl on its lower face. On-the stretcher these grooves extend longitudinally of the stretcher.

The `same is true of all of the other stretchers in the forward face at least of the cribbing assembly.

Header II I is provided with similar transverse grooves II2, II3 spaced inward of the end of the header a distance suiicient so that these grooves register with the grooves H19, I IIE on the stretchers when the'end of the header is flush with the face of the stretcher.

Various methods of liing such grooves may be employed, such as the injection of liquid mortar under pressure or the lling of the grooves with mortar before the laying of the cribbing in place. The mortar in the upper and lower grooves joins together and effects a seal as` soon as the cribbing is placed. The grooves are tapered in order to provide for the removal of the-form from the grooves.

It will also be observed that this form of water seal may also employ cement or sealing compound, such as tar in between the cracks 'l5-'I8 at the cribbing face. At a corner of the type of Fig. 1 the grooves are so arranged in the upper and lower surfaces of the cribbing, except the top of the uppermost cribbing member and the bottom of the lowermost, so that the grooves extend longitudinally of the stretchers toa point midway between the faces of the wall at the corner, and thence longitudinally of the other stretchers along the wall midway of the wall.

Referring to Fig. 12, this shows how the interlocking elements are arranged at thecorner of Fig. 1, where a stretcher and header are arranged at right angles to each other. The interlocking element I I4, shown in full lines, is that which interlocks between the header II and stretcher 30. The interlocking element II5,

shown in dotted lines, is illustrative of those used between the rear face of the stretcher 30 and the end of header `I I. Y

It will thusbe observed that I have invented an improved closed face cribbing and improved cribbing units which are adapted to be used for I the construction of dikes and other flood control walls. In some embodiments of my invention the cribbing units may be constructed without the use of any interlocking members, depending wholly upon the friction of the engaging faces of the stretchers and headers to prevent movement of these members. 'I he friction is greatly increased by the weight of the i'lll and the weight of the cribbing members above the joint.

I prefer to use the interlocking members shown, which have greater elasticity than concrete, and which act as a reserve interlocking means. They are, however, adapted to be broken before the concrete breaks. The interlocking arrangements are such that there are no pockets that can be lled with water, causing breaking of the concrete by freezing. Furthermore, the present cribbing may be constructed as a closed face cribbing which can be pointed up in the usual manner to make an impervious wall, or it may be laid in mortar, or it may be provided with mortar or sealing compound in the grooves above and below the cribbing members.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be` limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1.A In a concrete cribbing., the combination of a plurality of headers with a plurality of stretchers, said headers comprising prismatic concrete members having plane rectangular ends and sides, and said stretchers comprising concrete members having plane rectangular sides and ends, but having an end portion of reduced section whereby a recess is formed between two adjacent stretchers to receive the end of a header and whereby said stretchers are adapted to form a closed face wall, said stretcher and header members being laid alternately one upon the other to form a cribbing, and being retained in place by virtue of the friction between the interengaging surfaces of the stretchers and headers, said friction being increased by the weight of superimposed cribbing members and fill, said cribbing members being provided with vertically extending depressions for receiving interlocking members, said depressions comprising grooves located `in the vertical sides of said members adjacent the ends thereof, whereby said grooves are adapted to drain clear of any water to prevent damage by freezing of the water, and interlocking members arranged in said vertically extending depressions.

2. A cribbing member comprising a header of prismatic form having plane rectangular ends, sides, top and bottom, and constructed of concrete, said header being provided at each end with a pair of vertically extending` grooves, one on each side of the header, adjacent the end thereof, for receiving parts of interlocking members without possibility of retaining water in the depressions, a cribbing member comprising a stretcher having plane rectangular ends, top and bottom,

said stretcher having portions of reduced rectangular cross section adjacent each end, the cross section being reduced by an amount equivalent to slightly less than half the depth of an adjacent header, forming a stepped surface parallel to the ends of each header, said stepped surface being formed with a vertically extending groove for receiving an interlocking member, and

an interlocking member located between said stretcher and header in said vertically extending groove.

3. In a cribbing, the combination of a plurality of stretchers, said stretchers being of the same type, but being of increasing width toward the bottom of the cribbing, and being arranged in series, the lowermost series being the widest, with headers also being arranged in series, said headers being of uniform cross section, but' being of greater length toward the bottom of the cribbing, said headers and stretchers being laid alternately, one upon theV other, to form. a cribbing', with each successive series of headers and stretchers the stretcher walls being stepped inward as the cribbing proceeds upward.

4. In a cribbing, the combination of a plurality of stretchers, said stretchers being of the same type, but being of increasing width toward the bottom of the cribbing, and being. arranged in series, the lowermost series being the widest, with headers also being arranged in series, said headers being of uniform cross section, but being of greater length toward the bottom of the cribbing, said headers and stretchers being laid alternately, one upon the other, to form a cribbing, with each successive series of headers and stretchers the stretcher walls being stepped inward as the cribbing proceeds upward, the stretchers of each of said series being still arranged above a portion of the stretchers belovr said series to increase the bearing area between the series of stretchers.

-5. In a concrete cribbing, the combination of a plurality of stretchers and headers of rectangular cross section, said stretchers and headers having complementary end formations interengaging and forming a substantially closed face stretcher wall, with a plurality of wooden interlocking' members carried by said cribbing and located in apertures formed by registering grooves in opposing stretchers and headers between the ends of each stretcher and header to form a reserve interlocking arrangement.

6. In a concrete cribbing, the combination of a plurality of stretchers and headers of rectangular cross section, said stretchers and headers having complementary end formations interengaging and forming a substantially closed face stretcher wall, with a plurality of wooden interlocking members carried by said cribbing and located in apertures formed by registering grooves in opposing stretchers and headers between the ends of each stretcher and header to form a reserve interlocking arrangement, said stretchers being formed with grooves in their upper and lower surfaces adapted to be lled with a sealing cement to form an impervious stretcher wall.

7. A concrete cribbing member comprising a stretcher having a body portion with four plane sides and having plane ends, said body portion being provided adjacent one end with a pair of plane bearing surfaces, one above and one below, each of said bearing surfaces, being on a different stretcher having a surface at right angles to the,

axis of the body between said bearing surface and the main body of the stretcher, and having a groove formed by two plane surfaces at right angles to each other extending outward from each of said bearing surfaces to the outside of the main body portion.

8. In a concrete cribbing member, a header comprising a concrete member having a body portion with four plane sides and plane ends, said body portion having its vertical sides adjacent one end thereof formed with a pair of vertically extending grooves, each of said grooves being dened by a pair of plane surfaces at right angles to each other, whereby the grooves are adapted to t half of a square interlocking member.

9. In a concrete cribbing member, a header comprising a concrete member having four plane rectangular sides and plane rectangular ends, said header having adjacent one of its ends on each side a pair of vertically extending grooves located in the vertical sides thereof, said grooves being spaced from each other and each groove being defined by a pair of plane surfaces at substantially right angles to each other whereby the header is adapted to receive half of two rectangular interlocking members on each side, said interlocking members being located to engage headers in different vertical planes.

10. In a concrete cribbing, the combination of a plurality of stretchers and headers, said stretchers and headers being formed with complementary end formations whereby they may be combined to provide a closed face, flush type cribbing, interlocking means for interlocking the stretchers and headers at their intersections, said stretchers and headers being provided with grooves in their upper and lower bearing surfaces, and said grooves being filled with a watertight composition whereby the closed faced cribbing wall is made water-tight.

W- LSH-E` MCDANTEL 

